The Gen XY Lifestyle
Apple Music is Here
iPhone users can now update to iOS 8.4, and its biggest feature is undoubtedly the new Apple Music.
Apple Music is essentially an all-in-one combination of the most widely used types of music apps. It also features a streaming service as well as a worldwide live radio station that broadcasts 24 hours a day.
Like many other streaming apps, Apple Music also creates playlists based on your preferences, and is designed to become better at curating the more you listen. The “For You” section of Apple Music provides a personalised mix of albums, new releases and playlists. While the jury is out as to how well the curation works, there’re plenty of options to explore in the meantime. The amount of features available might seem a bit overwhelming at first, but you’ll soon get used to it. The “New” section features of course, new music, as well as recommended music from its panel, including Rolling Stone and Pitchfork. It’s also integrated with Siri, so you can ask Siri things like, “Play me the best songs from 1994.”
“Connect” is a way for you to connect with Artists directly. The idea is that through Connect, artists can share lyrics, backstage photos, videos or even their latest song from their iPhone. You can comment on or like anything an artist has posted and share it via social media, and interact directly with the artist. It feels rather PR-esque, but there’s plenty of potential for the artists to engage us in a meaningful manner.
Apple Music is available on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, and PC, and coming to Apple TV and Android phones later this year. Users are entitled to a 3-month free membership. It costs S$9.98 per month, and S$14.98 for a family plan (requires iCloud Family Sharing, and supports up to six members). It’s important to note that after the trial period, the membership will automatically renew and you will be charged on a monthly basis unless you turn the auto-renewal option off in your account settings.
The reality is that the differences between Apple Music and the competition like Spotify and Deezer are relatively minor and ultimately comes down to personal preferences, although the latter two offer ad-supported streaming. The only real advantage (if you can even call it that) is that it’s integrated into your device.
*Clarification: Beats 1 Radio shown in the cover photo, is at the moment, not officially available in Singapore. If you must try it, you can check out Stuff.tv’s how-to guide here.
